Is this a thing? Or, am I the only one struggling through week 9 of my baby’s life? Because let me tell you, these last few days have been a real doozy!
My little Norah went from a happy, quiet, content little angel (I even called her my “angel baby”) to a fussy, hard to settle little bundle of tears (we may or may not have started calling her “devil baby” it’s gotten so bad!).
Her schedule has been thrown off completely, and she spends more time crying when she’s awake than anything else. She has been waking up much more frequently at night (up from once a night to three times a night) and her naps have been short and sporadic.
I have a theory about what’s causing this little regression. Hear me out and please, if any other parents out there have any experience with this, please let me know I’m not alone!
So, it’s not that.
While the fussiness got crazy Friday, it started Tuesday and slowly escalated. Thinking back, I ask myself, “What happened around that time that would make my little girl so miserable?”
Vaccinations!
She got her shots on Monday. Now, I absolutely do not want to have the vaccinations vs anti-vaccinations debate. So, I’m just going to start with that.
I heard that shots can make babies fussy but I thought it was only supposed to last for a couple days. Can it last longer?
Another factor that I think might be contributing is that we went on a little trip this weekend. We went to visit my parents. I remember reading somewhere that around two months old, babies begin to be more aware of their surroundings. Could it be that she was aware that she wasn’t home? Combine that with the shots, did it somehow create the perfect storm of baby crankiness?
Now, mind you, as I sit here typing this, I’m basking in the peace and quiet of a calm morning. It’s been the first day in almost a week that she’s somewhat back to normal (knock on every single piece of wood around me that it stays that way!). She even gave me the most beautiful smile ever this morning.
Cue the adoring parent photo exhibit:
So, dear virtual world of family and friends, tell me. Did your baby go though the same thing around nine weeks? Is it possible that it’s from the shots (meaning I should prepare for this again in two months when we go back for her four month shots)? Did the trip add to her fussiness? What do you think?
Babies can fuss over anything. My daughter is turning one this week and goes through fussiness for a day or two after we have disrupted her schedule the slightest. This past weekend she spent the day at my in-laws house. She skipped her morning nap because they refuse to move her pack-n-play away from right in front of the TV to another room where its quiet. She would not take another nap for the remainder of the day and refused to go down to bed until almost 10. We threw our hands up and just let her dictate when she was ready to get back on schedule. Yesterday was a struggle but she figured it out quickly and gave in. Hang in there. Everything is new and sometimes you need to allow a little flexibility and let her dictate what she needs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the comment! It’s good to know that it’s normal. Even though it’s difficult having to re-settle her into her routine after a disruption, it really helps to know that I’m not alone and that every baby goes through it! I know it’s silly, but it makes me feel like I’m messing up somehow when she goes through a regression like this. I have to remind myself that it’s normal and keep trudging forward. Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone!
LikeLike
Completely normal. It is hard because every baby is different yet we do try to put them in this perfect mold. You are not alone at all. It has taken me a long time to discover that. You are not messing up at all. Being a mommy is the biggest learning curve. There are going to be many regressions in her little life. Wait until she’s teething or is sick. The slightest thing can throw them off. Sometimes, they just want mommy. You got this! It does and will get easier.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Biggest learning curve is right! I’m just so thankful to have other wonderful mommies like you to help me keep my sanity through it all! Thank you for the encouragement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s possible that the shots caused her fussiness! I mean, anything is possible right!? Also, I totally think travelling with a baby causes disruption in their routines and throws them off for a while. I used to Haaate travelling with our daughter when she was smaller. Our family is about 4 hours away from us and continuously expected us to drive with our newborn to visit. I dreaded it every single time because my daughter would literally freak out the entire visit lol She’s past that now though, thank god!
Hopefully you’re over the fussy hump BUT keep this in mind after her next vaccinations! If it happens again it’s most likely the cause 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh man! Four hours? That’s a long way for frequent visits! Especially with a baby. My parents are an hour and 15 minutes, and it takes all my energy to get out there! And I’ll definitely be looking to see if this happened again with her next set of shots. She’s been a little better today but still had her moments. Hopefully, we’re getting to the end of this phase! Thanks for the comment! 😊
LikeLike